Rendering virtual objects in 3d environments

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods, devices, and other techniques for placing and rendering virtual objects in three-dimensional environments. The techniques include providing, by a device, a view of an environment of a first user. A first computing system associated with the first user receives an instruction to display, within the view of the environment of the first user, a virtual marker at a specified position of the environment of the first user, the specified position derived from a second user&#39;s interaction with a three-dimensional (3D) model of at least a portion of the environment of the first user. The device displays, within the view of the environment of the first user, the virtual marker at the specified position of the environment of the first user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/986,038, filed Aug. 5, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 16/200,245, filed Nov. 26, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No.10,740,976, issued Aug. 11, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 15/422,407, filed Feb. 1, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No.10,140,773, issued Nov. 27, 2018. The complete disclosures of all of theabove patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

This specification generally relates to computer-based techniques forplacing and rendering virtual objects in three-dimensional (3D)environments.

Various computing systems have been developed that render 3Denvironments. By way of example, virtual reality (VR) systems render a3D environment that can be presented to a user wearing a head-mounteddisplay. The head-mounted display may include an electronic displayscreen and optical lenses through which the user views the screen andthe displayed 3D environment. The system can render the 3D environmentstereoscopically on the screen, which creates the illusion of depth to auser when viewed through the lenses of the head-mounted display. Some VRsystems provide an immersive user experience so the user feels as if heor she is actually present in the virtual environment. Some VR systemsallow a user to look or move around the 3D environment, and tomanipulate virtual objects within the 3D environment.

As another example, augmented reality systems have been developed thataugment views of a real-world environment with virtual objects. Thevirtual objects can be formatted so that they appear as if they are partof the real-world environment, such as a virtual robot that appears inlive video of a laboratory setting or a virtual pet that appears in livevideo of a residence. Some augmented reality systems are mixed realitysystems, which augment direct real-world views of an environment withvirtual objects that appear as if they are located in the environment. Adirect real-world view of the environment may be seen through fully orsemi-transparent lenses of a head-mounted display device, for example,in contrast to a video feed of the environment that provides an indirectview.

SUMMARY

This specification describes, among other things, techniques for placingand rendering virtual objects in a 3D environment. Computing systemsconfigured according to the techniques disclosed herein may allowremotely located users to coordinate tasks that involve physicalinteraction with objects in the environment of one of the users. By wayof example, a first user may be a field worker performing diagnostic,maintenance, or repair work on a target device in the field worker'senvironment, and a second user may have expertise in working on suchdevices but is not physically present with the first user. The systemmay present a 3D model of the target device to the second user, who canthen interact with the model and add virtual markers on or near themodel to identify locations where the first user should perform someaction to further the diagnostic, maintenance, or repair work. Thesystem may then render virtual markers for the field worker in areal-world view of the field worker's environment. For instance, thesystem may render the virtual markers by augmenting the field worker'sreal-world view of the environment using a mixed-reality head-mounteddisplay device. Thus, as the user physically works on the target device,the virtual markers appear as if they are actually located at fixedpoints in space or are located on the target device in the fieldworker's environment.

Some implementations of the subject matter disclosed herein include acomputer-implemented method. The method can include providing, by adevice, a view of an environment of a first user. A first computingsystem associated with the first user receives an instruction todisplay, within the view of the environment of the first user, a virtualmarker at a specified position of the environment of the first user, thespecified position derived from a second user's interaction with athree-dimensional (3D) model of at least a portion of the environment ofthe first user. The device displays, within the view of the environmentof the first user, the virtual marker at the specified position of theenvironment of the first user.

These and other implementations can optionally include one or more ofthe following features.

The instruction to display the virtual marker at the specified positionof the environment of the first user can include a coordinate value thatidentifies the position of the virtual marker in a 3D space. Thecoordinate value can identify the position of the virtual marker in a 3Dspace of a second environment other than the environment of the firstuser. The system can further map the coordinate from the 3D space of thesecond environment to the 3D space of the environment of the first userto determine a corresponding position of the virtual marker in theenvironment of the first user. The coordinate value can identify theposition of the virtual marker in the 3D space of the second environmentusing a first 3D offset from one or more anchor points of the secondenvironment. Mapping the coordinate from the 3D space of the secondenvironment to the 3D space of the environment of the first user caninclude (1) identifying one or more anchor points of the environment ofthe first user, and (2) applying, using the coordinate value, a second3D offset from the one or more anchor points of the environment of thefirst user to identify the corresponding position of the virtual markerin the environment of the first user.

Displaying the virtual marker at the specified position of theenvironment of the first user can include superimposing the virtualmarker over the view of the environment of the first user so that thevirtual marker visually appears as if it is located a distance from thefirst user at the specified position of the environment.

The second user's interaction with the 3D model of the at least theportion of the environment of the first user can occur while the seconduser is remotely located from the environment of the first user.

The 3D model of the at least the portion of the environment of the firstuser can include a 3D model of a target object located in theenvironment of the first user. The second user's interaction with the 3Dmodel of the at least the portion of the environment can include placingthe virtual marker at a particular location on a surface of the 3D modelof the target object. Displaying the virtual marker at the specifiedposition of the environment of the first user can include displaying thevirtual marker at a corresponding location on a surface of the targetobject within the view of the environment of the first user.

The first computing system can obtain, from one or more spatial sensors,spatial sensing data that indicates spatial characteristics of theenvironment of the first user. Based on the spatial sensing data, thefirst computing system can generate the 3D model of the at least theportion of the environment of the first user.

The first computing system can analyze the 3D model of the at least theportion of the environment of the first user to identify a virtualobject in the 3D model of the at least the portion of the environment ofthe first user that represents a target object located in theenvironment of the first user. The system can generate a 3D model of thetarget object by extracting the identified virtual object from the 3Dmodel of the at least the portion of the environment of the first user.The second user can specify the position of the virtual marker byplacing the virtual marker at a particular location in a virtualenvironment that includes the 3D model of the target object.

The device can be a head-mounted display (HMD) device, wherein the HMDdevice displays the virtual marker at the specified position of theenvironment of the first user while the first user is wearing the HMDdevice.

Providing the view of the environment of the first user can includegenerating an augmented view of the environment that shows one or morevirtual objects at fixed positions in a 3D space of the environment.

Some implementations of the subject matter disclosed herein include acomputer-implemented method. The method can include receiving, by acomputing system, data that represents a 3D model of at least a portionof an environment of a first user; rendering, by the computing systemfor display to a second user, the 3D model of the at least the portionof the environment of the first user; identifying, by the computingsystem, that a user input placed a virtual marker at a specifiedposition of a virtual environment that includes the 3D model of the atleast the portion of the environment of the first user; andtransmitting, by the computing system, an instruction for the virtualmarker to be displayed within a view of the environment of the firstuser at a specified position of the environment of the first user thatcorresponds to the specified position of the virtual environment atwhich the user input placed the virtual marker.

These and other implementations can optionally include one or more ofthe following features. Rendering the 3D model of the at least theportion of the environment of the first user can include augmenting adirect real-world view of a second environment of a second user with the3D model of the at least the portion of the environment of the firstuser.

A head-mounted display (HMD) device can be used to augment the directreal-world view of the second environment of the second user with the 3Dmodel of the at least the portion of the environment of the first user.

A portable computing device or a 3D-display device can be used to renderthe 3D model of the at least the portion of the environment of the firstuser.

The 3D model of the at least the portion of the environment of the firstuser can include a virtual object that represents a target object thatis located in the environment of the first user. The system generates a3D model of the target object from the 3D model of the at least theportion of the environment of the first user. Identifying that the userinput placed the virtual marker at the specified position of the virtualenvironment can include identifying that the user input placed thevirtual marker at a particular location on a surface of the 3D model ofthe target object.

After transmitting the instruction for the virtual marker to bedisplayed within the view of the environment of the first user, thesystem can perform further operations that include: receiving data thatidentifies a position in the environment of the first user at which aphysical implement has been brought into contact with or proximity ofthe target object; and rendering, by the computing system and fordisplay to the second user within the virtual environment, a virtualmarker that represents the physical implement at a position relative tothe 3D model of the target object that corresponds to the position inthe environment of the first user at which the physical implement wasbrought into contact with or proximity of the target object.

The system can perform further operations that include displaying thevirtual marker that represents the physical implement concurrently withthe placed virtual marker, and receiving a second user input thatindicates whether the physical implement was properly positioned withrespect to the target object, wherein in response to identifying thatthe second user input indicates that the physical implement was notproperly positioned with respect to the target object, the computingsystem is configured to transmit a notification to a computing systemassociated with the first user.

The 3D model of the at least the portion of the environment of the firstuser can include a 3D model of a target object located in theenvironment of the first user. The system can perform further operationsthat include receiving sensor data that identifies values for one ormore operational parameters of the target object, and rendering, fordisplay to the second user along with the 3D model of the target object,user interface elements representing the values for the one or moreoperational parameters of the target object.

Additional implementations of the subject matter disclosed hereininclude one or more computer-readable media encoded with instructionsthat, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or moreprocessors to perform any of the methods/processes disclosed herein. Thecomputer-readable media may further be part of a computing system thatincludes the one or more processors.

Some implementations of the subject matter described herein may, incertain instances, achieve one or more of the following advantages.First, the system may facilitate improved communication between a firstuser and a remotely located second user. For example, the first user maybe a field user performing diagnostics, repairs, or maintenance on adevice in the first user's environment. If the second user has expertisewith respect to the device, the second user may provide remoteassistance to the first user by precisely placing virtual markers atparticular locations in a virtual environment relative to a 3D model ofthe device. By providing a 3D model of the device in the first user'senvironment, the second user may more easily and accurately placevirtual markers on or near specific locations of the device than whatotherwise may be feasible if the second user interacted with atwo-dimensional representation of the device such as images or a videostream of the first user's environment. Second, by augmenting areal-world view of the first user's environment with virtual markersplaced by the second user, the first user may more readily visualize theprecise location of the virtual marker in three dimensions of thereal-world environment. Third, by affording more accurate placement andvisualization of virtual markers in 3D environments, the number ofrequired transmissions between a field computing system and a remotecomputing system may be reduced due to better initial placement of themarkers. Fourth, the amount of data required to identify a coordinateand, optionally, an orientation for a virtual marker may be relativelysmall as compared to some techniques for communicating positionalinformation by voice or video. Accordingly, the use of virtual markersto convey positional information between remotely located users mayreduce communication latency and conserve channel bandwidth. Fifth, byextracting target objects or portions of a 3D model of an environment,the file size for the transmitted model may be reduced therebyconserving channel bandwidth and reducing transmission times. Sixth, agaze-activated user interface element that is maintained in a collapsedstate may allow detailed information to be made available to a userbased on a direction of the user's gaze while preserving the ability ofa user to inspect a real-world view of an environment with minimaldistractions.

Additional features and advantages will be apparent from thedescription, the claims, and the drawings to one of ordinary skill inthe art.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1F illustrate an example conceptual process by which a fieldworker communicates with a remote expert to perform maintenance orrepairs on a furnace located in the field worker's environment. A systemfacilitates the ability of the remote expert to convey preciseinformation to the field worker for certain repair or maintenance tasks.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example remote modeling system thatrenders remote environments and augments the environments with virtualobjects.

FIGS. 3A-3C provide a flowchart of an example process for placing andrendering virtual markers in remotely located environments.

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate a physical control object that can be employed inaugmented and mixed reality systems to provide efficient access to userinterface elements that are superimposed in a view of a real-worldenvironment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example process for monitoring userinteractions with a physical control object and providing access to userinterface elements according to the user interactions.

FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate techniques for interacting with a gaze-activateduser interface element in an augmented view of a real-world environment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an example process for monitoring andresponding to user interactions with a gaze-activated user interfaceelement.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a computer system, which can be used tocarry out the operations described in association with thecomputer-implemented methods, systems, devices, and other techniquesdescribed herein.

Like reference numbers and designations among the various drawingsindicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1A-1F illustrate stages of an example process by which a remotemodeling system enables communications between a field user 102 and anexpert user (not shown) who are located remotely from each other. Thefield user 102 is located in a field environment in which the field user102 can physically interact with one or more target objects that existin the field environment. In the example of FIGS. 1A-1F, the targetobject is a furnace system 104. For instance, the field user 102 may bean HVAC technician performing repair or maintenance work on the furnacesystem 104 in a basement or other mechanical room of a building. Duringthe course of the repair or maintenance work, the field user 102 maywish to consult with another user, e.g., a user who has expertise withthe particular model of the furnace system 104, a supervisor whoperforms a remote quality check on the field user's work, or a homeownerwho is away during the repair or maintenance work. For the purpose ofthis example, the second user that the field user 102 communicates withvia the remote modeling system is referred to as an expert user.

Beginning at FIG. 1A, the field user 102 deploys a field-based portionof the remote modeling system, e.g., field system 202, to performspatial modeling of the field user's ambient environment. The system mayinclude a spatial modeling engine that uses data obtained from a spatialsensing subsystem to generate a 3D model of the field user's surroundingenvironment, or a specified portion thereof. The spatial sensingsubsystem may include, for example, an infrared emitter that emits apattern of infrared light in the field environment and a depth camerathat detects distortions in the infrared patterns projected ontosurfaces of the environment to determine distances of the surfaces fromthe camera. The spatial modeling engine can use the data sensed by thedepth camera to generate a 3D model of the environment. In someinstances, the field user 102 may aim the spatial sensing subsystem at atarget object, e.g., furnace system 104, in the environment and may walkaround the target object to scan the object from different angles inorder to generate a complete 3D model of the target object within thefield user's ambient environment.

The field user 102 uses a display device to view the target object andother aspects of the environment. FIG. 1A shows a view 100 of theambient environment of the field user 102 with particular focus onfurnace system 104. The view 100 may be provided by the display device,which in some implementations is a head-mounted display (HMD). With theHMD, the field user 102 is enabled to don the device on his or her headand be immersed in the view 100 of the ambient environment.

In some implementations, the view 100 is a real-world view of theambient environment in which the ambient environment is shown directly,e.g., through lenses of the HMD, or is shown indirectly, e.g., on anopaque display screen that shows live images or videos of the ambientenvironment in the field of view of a camera. For a direct real-worldview, the HMD may be a mixed-reality display that allows a user to viewthe ambient environment through at least partially transparent lenseswhile also augmenting the view with virtual objects rendered over thelenses such that the virtual objects appear as if they are locatedwithin the ambient environment itself. An example mixed-reality HMD isthe MICROSOFT® HOLOLENS®. For an indirect real-world view, the HMD maybe a virtual reality device that includes a near-eye display (e.g., anLCD or LED display) and which shows a 3D video of the ambientenvironment of the field user 102. In other implementations, an indirectreal-world view of the ambient environment of the field user 102 may beprovided on desktop monitors, televisions, or portable displays that arenot worn by the user 102 and not necessarily designed for immersive,near-eye viewing. For the purpose of discussion, the real-world view 100described in the example of FIGS. 1A-1F is assumed to be a directreal-world view provided by a mixed-reality HMD.

After the spatial modeling engine has generated a 3D model of theambient environment of the field user 102, the system transmits datarepresenting a 3D model of at least a portion of the ambient environmentto a remote system. In some implementations, the transmitted 3D model isthe complete model of the ambient environment as generated by thespatial modeling engine. In other implementations, the transmitted 3Dmodel may represent less than all of the ambient environment. Forexample, the system may identify the furnace system 104 as the targetobject in the field user's environment. Based on identifying the furnacesystem 104 as the target object, the system may extract the portion ofthe 3D model that corresponds to just the furnace system 104 from the 3Dmodel of the ambient environment as a whole (e.g., to the exclusion ofsurroundings that are not pertinent to the furnace system 104) togenerate a 3D model of the furnace system. The field computing systemcan then transmit the 3D model of the furnace to a remote portion of themodeling system that is associated with the expert user, e.g., remotesystem 204.

FIG. 1B is a view 150 of a rendered 3D model 154 of the furnace system104 from the ambient environment of the field user. The remote computingsystem generates the view 150 for the expert user, who is providingremote assistance to the field user 102 with respect to the repair ormaintenance task on the furnace 104. The system can present the 3Dfurnace model 154 to the expert user in various ways. In someimplementations, the expert user uses a mixed-reality HMD to display thevirtual field environment so that the 3D furnace model 154 is renderedas a virtual object that augments a direct real-world view 150 of theexpert user's ambient environment. For example, the expert user may workin a lab or a shop, which can be seen through the transparent lenses ofthe mixed-reality HMD. Upon receiving the 3D furnace model 154 from thefield computing system, the expert user's mixed-reality HMD may augmentthe expert user's view 150 with a virtual rendering of the furnace usingthe 3D furnace model 154. The 3D furnace model 154 may be virtuallylocated in the view 150 of the expert user's environment in a naturalposition, e.g., set on a floor at a fixed location of the environment.While wearing the mixed-reality HMD, the expert user may physically movearound the virtual rendering of the furnace 104 to view and inspect thetarget object from various angles. In other implementations, the remotemodeling system may render the 3D furnace model 154 for the expert userusing other types of displays. For example, the system may render the 3Dfurnace model 154 in a user interface on the screen of a tabletcomputing device, on a desktop monitor, or a television monitor. In someinstances, the 3D furnace model 154 may be rendered on a 3D monitor thatemploys a stereoscopic display to give the perception of depth to themodel 154.

The remote modeling system is configured to allow the expert user tointeract with the 3D model of the target object. The expert user may“annotate” the 3D model of the target object in a virtual fieldenvironment by adding virtual markers to the environment in which the 3Dmodel of the target object is rendered.

Virtual markers are generally virtual objects that augment a view of a3D environment and that identify particular locations in the 3Denvironment specified by a user. As shown in FIG. 1C, for example, theexpert user has added a virtual marker 156 proximate to a coupling on agas pipe of the 3D model of the furnace 104 from the ambient environmentof the field user 102. The expert user may specify precisely where thevirtual marker should be placed in the 3D environment so as toaccurately convey location (position) information to the field user 102.Thus, if the expert user suspects that a leak or other problem may existwith the top coupling on the gas pipe of the furnace, the virtual markercan be placed on or near that coupling. The location of a virtual marker156 can be specified in any suitable way according to the manner inwhich the 3D model 154 is presented. For implementations in which the 3Dmodel 154 is displayed on a tablet, the expert user may use touchscreengestures to rotate, pan, or zoom the 3D model 154 and to drag a virtualmarker to a desired location. For implementations in which the 3D model154 is displayed with an HMD device in a mixed-reality environment or avirtual reality environment, the expert user may use hand gestures or apointing device to indicate in 3D space the desired location of thevirtual marker.

In some implementations, a virtual marker can present additionalinformation beyond just location or positional information. To conveyadditional information to the field user 102, the expert user may, forinstance, specify an orientation of the virtual marker, assign aparticular appearance (e.g., a selected 3D model) to the virtual marker,animate the virtual marker, add media content to the virtual marker, oradd a note or other text to the virtual marker. For example, the expertuser may suggest a particular tool (implement) for the field user 102 touse when working on the pipe coupling by selecting a 3D model for thattool. Similarly, the field user 102 may add a short note next to theselected 3D model indicating instructions for using the tool. In someimplementations, the system may automatically select an icon for avirtual marker that matches a type of supplemental content added to avirtual marker. For example, a second virtual marker 158 shown in FIG.1C includes audio content. The system therefore uses a speaker icon toalert the field user 102 that audio content can be played from thevirtual marker, such as a recording of verbal instructions from theexpert user.

After the expert user confirms the placement of one or more virtualmarkers in the 3D environment on or around the 3D model of the targetobject, the remote modeling system transmits data representing thevirtual markers to the field portion of the system. The field portion ofthe system can then process the received data representing the virtualmarkers placed by the expert user to render the virtual objects in theview 100 of the ambient environment of the field user 102. For example,in FIG. 1D, a first virtual marker 106 corresponding to virtual marker156 is rendered on or near the furnace pipe's top coupling in a locationthat corresponds to the location of the virtual marker 156 relative tothe 3D model of the furnace 104. Likewise, a second virtual marker 108corresponding to virtual marker 158 is rendered near the base of thefurnace at a location that corresponds to the location of the virtualmarker 158 relative to the 3D model of the furnace 104. Forimplementations in which the view 100 is a direct real-world view of theambient environment generated by a mixed-reality HMD device, the fielduser 102 can thereby see the precise location of the virtual markers106, 108 in 3D space on or near the actual furnace system 104. Moreover,the virtual markers 106, 108 may be fixed in space so that, even as thefield user 102 looks or moves around his or her environment, the virtualmarkers may remain fixed in space, e.g., at the top-most pipe couplingand at the base of the furnace 104, respectively.

In some instances, the field user 102 can use a virtual marker 106 thatis displayed within a view 100 of the ambient environment as a guide forperforming an action in the environment. For example, the expert usermay have placed the virtual marker 106 in the environment as anindication to the field user 102 of the precise location on the targetobject where the field user 102 should apply a tool. As FIG. 1E shows,the virtual marker 106 appears on or near the top-most pipe coupling ofthe furnace system 104. Upon seeing the virtual marker 106 in the view100, the field user 102 knows that he or she should torque theidentified pipe coupling using wrench 110. In some implementations, asthe field user 102 torques the identified pipe coupling using anappropriate wrench 110, the field-portion of the remote modeling systemcaptures the location and, optionally, the orientation of the wrench 110during the work. The captured data characterizing the field user's useof the wrench 110 is transferred to the remote portion of the computingsystem for the expert user. A virtual representation 160 of the wrench110 can then be rendered within the view 150 for the expert user at alocation relative to the 3D furnace model 154 that corresponds to thelocation at which the field user 102 physically applied the wrench 110to the actual furnace system 104. In some implementations, the virtualrepresentation 160 of the wrench 110 can be a 3D model of the wrench 110that visually resembles the tool used by the field user 102. In someimplementations, the virtual representation 160 of the wrench 110 can bedisplayed concurrently with the virtual marker 156 that the expert userhad previously placed in the view of the furnace system 104. The expertuser can then compare in a remote, 3D environment the location that thewrench 110 was applied to the location of the virtual marker 156. If thelocation of the wrench 110, as indicated by virtual representation 160,is satisfactory to the expert user, the expert user may send aconfirmation message to the field user 102. If the location at which thewrench 110 was applied is deemed unsatisfactory, the expert user mayadjust the location of the virtual marker 156 and the updated locationcan be transmitted to the field user 102 to cause the location of thecorresponding virtual marker 106 to be moved according to the updatedlocation.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example remote modeling system 200. Theremote modeling system 200 can include multiple computers in multiplelocations. In some implementations, the system 200 is configured tocarry out the processes disclosed herein, including the processesdescribed with respect to FIGS. 1A-1F and 3A-3C. In general, the system200 includes two or more portions that are remotely located from eachother. These portions include a field system 202 that is deployed in afield environment and a remote system 204 that is remote from the fieldenvironment. The field system 202 and the remote system 204 maycommunicate directly or indirectly over one or more networks, e.g., alocal area network or the Internet. In some implementations, the fieldsystem 202 and the remote system 204 communicate indirectly via a serversystem 206. The server system 206 may then pass messages between thefield system 202 and the remote system 204. In some implementations, oneor more of the components 210-228 that are shown in FIG. 2 as being partof the field system 202, or the components 230-240 that are shown inFIG. 2 as being part of the remote system 204, may alternatively bearranged as part of the server system 206 for non-local (e.g.,cloud-based) processing. Each of the components 210-228 and components230-240 may include one or more dedicated or shared processors.

The field system 202 includes a collection of components 210-228 thatprovide respective services to a user in the field environment. Thecontroller 210 is responsible for managing operations of the fieldsystem 202 and coordinating activities among the various othercomponents 212-228 of the field system 202. The communications interface212 is configured to transmit and receive messages over one or morenetworks. The communications interface 212 allows the field system 202to communicate with the remote system 204, the server system 206, orboth.

A head-mounted display (HMD) 214 is a display device that is configuredto be worn on the head of a user. The HMD 214 can include an electronicdisplay screen, lenses, or both, located a short distance (e.g., 1-5inches) in front of the eyes of a user wearing the HMD 214 to presentvisual content to the user. In some implementations, the HMD 214 is avirtual reality device or a mixed-reality device. In someimplementations, the HMD 214 is a mixed-reality device that augments adirect real-world view of an ambient environment of the user. Forexample, the HMD 214 may include one or more at least partiallytransparent lenses that allow the user to directly view the real-worldenvironment surrounding the user. The HMD 214 may superimpose virtualobjects over portions of the direct real-world view of the environmentso that the virtual objects appear to the user as if they are actuallypresent in the environment. One example of a suitable HMD 214 that canaugment a direct, real-world view of an ambient environment is aMICROSOFT® HOLOLENS®.

In other implementations, the field system 202 may utilize displaydevices other than head-mounted displays. For example, an indirectreal-world view of the ambient environment, such as a video stream, maybe presented on an electronic display screen on a desktop monitor (e.g.,an LCD or LED display), a television, a mobile phone, or a tabletcomputing device.

The field system 202 further includes a spatial modeling engine 216. Thespatial modeling engine 216 is configured to generate a 3D model of theambient environment of the field user. The spatial modeling engine 216receives spatial sensing data sensed by one or sensors in a spatialsensing subsystem of the spatial modeling engine 216 and processes thespatial sensing data to generate the 3D model. The spatial sensing datarepresents spatial characteristics of the field user's ambientenvironment. In some implementations, the spatial sensing data includesdata generated as a result of an infrared emitter that emits a patternof infrared light in the field environment and a depth camera thatdetects distortions in the infrared patterns projected onto surfaces ofthe environment to determine distances of the surfaces from the camera.The spatial modeling engine 216 can use the data sensed by the depthcamera to generate the 3D model of the environment. In someimplementations, other forms of computer vision technologies may be usedin addition, or alternatively, to the emitter-depth camera approach. Forexample, the spatial modeling engine 216 may be configured to analyzeimages, video, or other spatial sensing data to recognize particularobjects in an environment. The spatial modeling engine 216 may thenobtain pre-defined 3D models of the recognized objects in theenvironment and arrange them as the corresponding physical objects arearranged in the environment. The 3D model generated by the spatialmodeling engine 216 can be defined in any suitable form, e.g., as a 3Dpolygonal mesh.

The spatial modeling engine 216 may scan all or a portion of the ambientenvironment of the field user. However, the resulting 3D model that thespatial modeling engine 216 generates may include extraneous portionsthat are not required or desired by a remote expert user. For instance,the field user may be attempting to repair a photocopying machine in anoffice mail room. The remote expert can assist the field user with hisor her repair work by interacting with a 3D model of the photocopyingmachine in a remote environment. The initial 3D model output by thespatial modeling engine 216 may represent the office mail roomenvironment in whole or in part, but may include extraneous aspects ofthe environment not limited to just the target object, i.e., thephotocopying machine. To remove the extraneous aspects of the 3D modelof the environment, the remote modeling system can include an extractionengine 228. In general, the extraction engine 228 is configured toidentify a target portion of a 3D model and to extract the targetportion of the 3D model from extraneous portions of the 3D model. Thetarget portion of the 3D model can be one or more target objects thatare to be virtually rendered in the remote user's environment and theextraneous portions of the 3D model can be the remainder of the 3D modelother than the target portion. For example, the extraction engine 228may analyze the initial 3D model of the mail room environment, identifythe photocopying machine from the initial 3D model, and extract a 3Dmodel of the photocopying machine from the initial model by discardingextraneous portions of the 3D model that are not part of thephotocopying machine.

The extraction engine 228 can identify a target object in a 3D modelautomatically or based on user input. For automatic identification, theextraction engine 228 may use object detection and recognitiontechniques to detect a target object in the initial 3D model from thespatial modeling engine 216. For identification based on user input, theextraction engine 228 can receive a user input that indicates aselection of a point or a region in a representation of the modeled 3Denvironment that corresponds to the target object. The extraction engine228 can then correlate the selection with a target object and extract a3D model of the target object from the initial 3D model of theenvironment. The representation of the modeled 3D environment may be arendering of the 3D model of the environment, an image of theenvironment, or may take other suitable forms.

In FIG. 2, the extraction engine 228 is shown by way of example as beingpart of the field system 202. However, in other implementations, theextraction engine 228 may be provided in the server system 206, theremote system 204, or may be distributed among multiple portions of thesystem 200. Different advantages may be realized depending on thelocation of the extraction engine 228. For example, by providing theextraction engine 228 at the field system 202, the size of one or moredata files representing the 3D model transmitted to the remote system204 may be reduced as compared to the size of the initial 3D model ofthe environment before extraction. On the other hand, extraction of atarget object from a 3D model of an environment can be a computationallyexpensive task, and in some instances may be more efficiently performedat the server system 206 or the remote system 204. Accordingly,extraction engine 228 can then be provided at either of the systems 204or 206.

The field system 202 is configured to display virtual objects, such asvirtual markers, within a view of an ambient environment provided by theHMD 214. The system 202 may insert into the view of the ambientenvironment virtual objects that were placed by a remote user, e.g., anexpert user, at the remote system 204. Other virtual objects may beinserted into the view of the ambient environment by a local user, e.g.,a field user at the field system 202. To display virtual objects, thefield system 202 includes a virtual objects manager 220 and a renderingengine 222.

First, the virtual objects manager 220 maintains information aboutvirtual objects that can be displayed within the view of the ambientenvironment. To display a virtual object that a remote user hasspecified, the field system 202 first receives via the communicationsinterface 212 an instruction to display a virtual object at a specifiedposition of the ambient field environment. The instruction can includevalues for various parameters that affect how the virtual object is tobe displayed within the view of the ambient environment, including adisplay coordinate value, an object orientation value, a modelidentification value, secondary data values, or a combination of theseand other values. The display coordinate value indicates the position ina 3D space at which the virtual object should be displayed. The objectorientation value indicates the orientation at which the virtual objectshould be displayed (e.g., upright, horizontal, tilted). The modelidentification value indicates a particular visual representation thatshould be displayed for the virtual object. The virtual objects manager220 may include a models database that maps a respective modelidentification value for each of a set of pre-stored 2D models (e.g.,graphics or icons) or 3D models at the field system 202. Using a modelidentification value from the received instruction, the virtual objectsmanager 220 may access the models database to look-up which 2D or 3Dmodel to display in the view of the ambient environment. Secondary datavalues can include any further information that affects how the virtualobject should be presented to the user in the view of the ambientenvironment. As one example, the secondary data values may express atext label that is to be displayed next to the 2D or 3D model of thevirtual object. As another example, the secondary data values mayinclude a link to an external resource (e.g., a webpage or anapplication) or additional media content to render along with the 2D or3D model of the virtual object.

As noted in the preceding paragraph, the field system 202 may include adisplay coordinate value that indicates the position in 3D space atwhich a virtual object should be displayed. One challenge that arises inthis context is how to interpret the coordinate value so that thevirtual object is displayed at the proper position within the view ofthe ambient environment, even if another user (e.g., a remote expert atthe remote system 204) placed the virtual object in a 3D space for anenvironment that is different from the ambient environment of the fielduser. To this end, the virtual objects manager 220 may include analignment and translation engine (not shown in FIG. 2) that isconfigured to translate a received display coordinate value to atranslated display coordinate value that identifies the display positionfor a virtual object in a 3D space specifically for the ambient fieldenvironment. The received display coordinate value may be translated if,for example, the coordinate systems between the ambient fieldenvironment and a remote environment in which a remote user places avirtual object are not aligned. In other implementations, the alignmentand translation engine may align the coordinate systems of the ambientfield environment and the remote environment to obviate the need totranslate a received display coordinate value. To align the coordinatesystems, the spatial modeling engine 216 first identifies one or moreanchor points in the ambient field environment. The anchor points serveas reference positions (e.g., origins) in a 3D coordinate system thatdefines spatial positions in the ambient field environment. For example,an anchor point may be located at the corner of a room in the ambientfield environment and may be assigned the (0, 0, 0) origin position in aCartesian coordinate system. The locations of objects in a 3D model ofthe ambient field environment can then be defined in terms of theiroffset from the origin position. Moreover, the field system 202 cantransmit to the remote system 204 data that identifies the anchor pointsof the ambient field environment along with the 3D model of the ambientfield environment or the 3D models of one or more target objects in theambient field environment. In this way, the remote system 204 canidentify the anchor points of the ambient field environment and can usethe identified anchor points to generate display coordinate values forvirtual objects in a remote environment in terms of their offsets fromthe identified anchor points. With the coordinate systems alignedbetween the field environment and the remote environment, coordinatevalues generated by either the field system 202 or remote system 204will indicate corresponding positions in either environment. Thus, if aremote user places a virtual object at a particular location on asurface of a 3D model of a target object in a remote environment, thecoordinate value that identifies the precise location of the virtualobject in the remote environment will also identify an equivalentlocation on a surface of the actual target object that physically existsin the field environment.

The field system 202 further includes a rendering engine 222. Therendering engine 222 is configured to render virtual content for displayusing the HMD 214 or using an alternative display device. In someimplementations, the rendering engine 222 augments a real-world view ofan ambient environment by superimposing virtual objects over the view ofthe environment. The rendering engine 222 may process information fromthe spatial modeling engine 216 to determine values of parameters fordisplaying a virtual object such that the virtual object appears as ifit is part of the ambient environment. For example, the virtual objectmay be placed on a surface of a physical object in the ambientenvironment. Using information from the spatial modeling engine 216, therendering engine 222 can render the virtual object on the surface of thephysical object within an augmented view of the ambient environment.Depending on the present field of view, the rendering engine 222 mayrender a virtual object to appear as if it is occluded by interveningphysical objects and to appear that it is at a fixed spatial position inthe 3D environment. The display parameter values for a virtual objectindicate how the rendering engine 222 locates, sizes, and morphs avirtual object in real-time so as to create the illusion of the virtualobject being located at a particular location of the ambient environmentat a distance from the camera or the user's eyes.

An input manager 218 of the field system 202 is configured to receiveuser inputs from one or more input sources. The input sources mayinclude any appropriate mechanism for detecting user inputs, e.g.,mechanical buttons or switches, virtual buttons or switches, a cameraand gesture recognizer, a microphone and speech recognizer, a mechanicalor virtual keyboard, a pointing device, or a combination of two or moreof these. A user may provide input to the field system 202 for variouspurposes such as to select a target object, to provide spoken or typedinformation to a remote user, to place or move virtual markers, totrigger a state capture event, or for other purposes. In someimplementations, the input manager 218 is configured to receive andprocess data that indicates the direction of a gaze of a user wearingHMD 214. The direction of a user's gaze may be determined using datafrom one or more orientation and motion sensors of the HMD 214 (e.g.,accelerometers, compasses, gyroscopes), from eye tracking sensors, orfrom both.

In some implementations, the field system 202 includes a state captureengine 224. The state capture engine 224 is configured to capture andstore state data that indicates a state of the ambient field environmentat particular times. In some instances, the state capture engine 224captures and stores information that characterizes a field user'sactions in the ambient field environment. For example, the system 202may render a virtual marker within a view of the ambient fieldenvironment, where the marker was placed by a remote user in order toprompt the field user to operate on a specific component of a targetobject. When the field user brings a tool into position to begin work onthe specified component, the state capture engine 224 may capture andstore state data that identifies the position of the field user's toolin a 3D space of the ambient field environment (e.g., a position of thetool relative to the target object or the virtual marker). The statedata may be transmitted to the remote system 204 for review of the fielduser's actions. In some examples, the remote system 204 uses the statedata to render a virtual object that represents the field user's tool,such as a generic virtual marker or a 3D model of the tool, at aposition in the remote environment that corresponds to the position inthe field environment.

The field system 202, in some implementations, further includes one ormore auxiliary data sources 226. The auxiliary data sources 226 makeauxiliary data available to the field system 202. Auxiliary data caninclude any information that may bear on the field user's work in thefield environment or that may bear on a remote user's assessment of thefield environment. For example, the target object in a field environmentmay be equipped with sensors that generate signals indicating operatingcharacteristics of the target object. The auxiliary data sources 226 maycollect, store, and transmit the sensor signals indicative of operatingcharacteristics of the target object to make such information availableto the field system 202, the remote system 204, and/or the server system206. In some implementations, data from the auxiliary data sources 206is stored in the data store 208, which is directly accessible to theserver system 206. In some implementations, raw auxiliary data orinformation derived at least in part from the raw auxiliary data may bepresented to the field user, the remote user, or both. For example,during an electrical repair, the field user may attach the leads of amulti-meter to a target circuit board. As an auxiliary data source 226,electrical information such as current flow, voltage, or resistance maybe collected, stored, and transmitted. The information may also bedisplayed to the field user, the remote user, or both while the repairis ongoing.

The remote system 204 may be implemented as one or more computers in oneor more locations. In general, the remote system 204 is configured topresent 3D models of at least a portion of the ambient field environmentto a user that is remotely located from the field environment. Theremote system 204 can add objects to a virtual field environment, suchas virtual markers that identify specific locations in a 3D space of thevirtual field environment. The virtual field environment can include a3D model of the ambient field environment, or just a portion thereofsuch as a 3D model of a target object located in the ambient fieldenvironment.

The remote system 204 includes a controller 230. The controller 230 isresponsible for managing operations of the remote system 204 andcoordinating activities among the various other components 232-242 ofthe remote system 204. The communications interface 232 is configured totransmit and receive messages over one or more networks. Thecommunications interface 232 allows the remote system 204 to communicatewith the field system 202, the server system 206, or both.

A display device 234 displays the virtual field environment to a remoteuser, i.e., a user that may be local to the remote system 204 but thatis located remotely from the field system 202. The remote system 204 mayprovide different types of display devices 234 for different userexperiences. In some implementations, the display device 234 is ahead-mounted display (HMD), e.g., like HMD 214 of the field system 202.An HMD can provide the user with a real-world view of the remote user'sambient environment while augmenting the view with the virtual fieldenvironment, e.g., by superimposing a 3D model of the target object fromthe field environment over the real-world view of the remote user'sambient environment. In some implementations, a mixed-reality HMD maysuperimpose the 3D model of the target object over a direct real-worldview of the remote user's ambient environment, thereby allowing theremote user to view the 3D model at scale in the remote user's ownenvironment. In other implementations, the display device 234 displaysthe virtual field environment on a 2D display screen such as an LCD orLED screen on a desktop monitor or a tablet computing device. The usermay then, for example, use touchscreen gestures or other inputmechanisms to manipulate (e.g., rotate, pan, zoom) the 3D model of thetarget object and to place virtual markers at specified positions of thevirtual environment. In yet other implementations, the display device234 displays the virtual field environment on a 3D display screen, e.g.,a screen that uses stereoscopic imaging to create the illusion of depth.The 3D display screen may provide a more immersive experience for theremote user than a 2D display screen.

A rendering engine 236 of the remote system 204 is configured to rendervirtual objects that are displayed with the display device 234. Therendering engine 236 receives data characterizing a virtual environment(e.g., one or more virtual objects), renders the virtual environment ina 3D space, and outputs a signal to the display device 236 that can beused to display the rendered virtual environment.

A virtual objects manager 238 of the remote system 204 is configured tomaintain information about virtual objects that can be displayed withinthe virtual environment. The virtual objects manager 238 may include amodels database that maps a respective model identification value foreach of a set of pre-stored 2D models (e.g., graphics or icons) or 3Dmodels at the remote system 204. Using a model identification value, thevirtual objects manager 238 may access the models database to look-upwhich 2D or 3D model to display in the view of the ambient environment.Secondary data values can include any further information that affectshow the virtual object should be presented to the user in the view ofthe ambient environment. As one example, the secondary data values mayexpress a text label that is to be displayed next to the 2D or 3D modelof the virtual object. As another example, the secondary data values mayinclude a link to an external resource (e.g., a webpage or anapplication) or additional media content to render along with the 2D or3D model of the virtual object.

The remote system 204 includes a primary input manager 240 and asecondary input manager 242. The primary input manager 240 receivesprimary user inputs, i.e., user inputs that indicate a user's desire toadd virtual markers to a virtual environment or manipulate virtualmarkers in a virtual environment. The secondary input manager 240receives secondary user inputs, i.e., user inputs that indicate a user'sdesire to add secondary objects to a virtual environment. Secondaryobjects include objects other than virtual markers, such as objects thatsupplement virtual markers displayed in a virtual environment. Forexample, the remote user may add voice or text annotations to a virtualmarker to provide additional explanation or clarification of tasks thatthe field user is requested to perform.

In some implementations, the primary input manager 240, the secondaryinput manager 242, or both, are configured to receive user inputs fromone or more input sources. The input sources may include any appropriatemechanism for detecting user inputs, e.g., mechanical buttons orswitches, virtual buttons or switches, a camera and gesture recognizer,a microphone and speech recognizer, a mechanical or virtual keyboard, apointing device, or a combination of two or more of these. A user mayprovide input to the remote system 204 for various purposes such as toselect a target object, to provide spoken or typed information to afield user, to place or move virtual markers, or for other purposes. Insome implementations, the input manager 242 is configured to receive andprocess data that indicates the direction of a gaze of a user wearing ahead-mounted display device. The direction of a user's gaze may bedetermined using data from one or more orientation and motion sensors ofthe HMD (e.g., accelerometers, compasses, gyroscopes), from eye trackingsensors, or from both.

Referring next to FIGS. 3A-3C, a flowchart is depicted of an exampleprocess 300 for placing and rendering virtual markers in a 3Denvironment. The process 300 can be carried out by a system of computersin two or more locations, e.g., the remote modeling system 200 of FIG.2. The flowchart is shown as a series of operations performed between afield portion of the computing system, e.g., field system 202, and aremote portion of the computing system, e.g., remote system 204.However, in some implementations, the operations may not all beperformed directly between the field system and remote system. The fieldsystem and the remote system may communicate through an intermediateserver system, e.g., server system 206, and particular ones of theoperations 302-342 may alternatively be performed at the intermediateserver system rather than the field system or the remote system.

The process 300 begins at stage 302 where the field system provides areal-world view of an ambient environment of a user in the field. Theambient environment may be directly viewed through lenses of ahead-mounted display, e.g., head-mounted display 214, or may beindirectly viewed on an electronic display screen that shows images orvideo of the ambient environment.

At stage 304, the field system scans the ambient environment of the userin the field to create a 3D model of at least a portion of the ambientfield environment. The scan may be performed using spatial sensors suchas a depth camera, a radio detection and ranging subsystem (RADAR), asound navigation and ranging subsystem (SONAR), a light detection andranging subsystem (LIDAR), or a combination of these or other scanningtechniques. A spatial modeling engine, e.g., spatial modeling engine216, may process the spatial sensing data to generate the 3D model.

At stage 306, the field system identifies a target object located in theambient field environment. In some implementations, the systemidentifies the target object automatically (e.g., without receiving userinput between scanning the environment and identifying the targetobject). In some implementations, the system identifies the targetobject based on user input. For example, the system may prompt a user toselect the target object from an image or video of the ambient fieldenvironment or by selecting a portion of the 3D model of the fieldenvironment corresponding to the desired target object.

At stage 308, the field system extracts the identified target objectfrom the 3D model of the at least the portion of the ambient fieldenvironment. The field system may include an extraction engine, e.g.,extraction engine 228, to generate a 3D model of the target object fromthe 3D model of the ambient field environment by extracting the targetobject from other portions of the ambient field environment contained inthe 3D model. In some implementations, extraction of the 3D targetobject model may be performed at an intermediary server system or at theremote system, rather than at the field system.

At stage 310, the field system identifies one or more anchor points in a3D space for the ambient field environment. The anchor points can beused to align coordinate systems between the field system and the remotesystem, which thereby allows virtual objects to be placed in a virtualfield environment and subsequently rendered at an equivalent position ina real-world view of the same environment. In some implementations, thesystem designates one, two, three, or more positions in the 3D model ofthe target object (or the 3D model of the at least the portion of theambient environment if extraction has not yet occurred) as anchorpoints. The anchor points can be chosen arbitrarily or based on logicthat optimizes the selection of particular positions as anchor points.

At stage 312, the field system transmits the 3D model of the targetobject (or the 3D model of the at least the portion of the ambientenvironment if extraction has not yet occurred) to the remote system. Insome implementations, the 3D model is transmitted over a networkdirectly to the remote system. In other implementations, the 3D model istransmitted indirectly over the network to the remote system.

At stage 314, the remote system receives the 3D model of the targetobject from the field system.

Upon receiving the 3D model of the target object, the system renders themodel in a user interface of the remote system. The user interface ofthe remote can take various forms depending on user preferences and thedisplay hardware on which the rendered model is displayed. The userinterface can be a virtual representation of the ambient fieldenvironment. A rendering engine of the remote system, e.g., renderingengine 236, may render the 3D model of the target object, and therendered model may be displayed using a display device, e.g., displaydevice 234.

At stage 318, the remote system receives a primary user input to place avirtual marker in the user interface of the remote system. Inparticular, the virtual marker may be placed in a virtual fieldenvironment on or around a 3D model of the target object or a 3D modelof at least a portion of the ambient field environment. The location ofthe marker in the virtual field environment may be specified by acoordinate value in a 3D coordinate system, where the coordinate valueidentifies an offset of the specified location of the marker in 3D spacefrom one or more anchor points. The primary user input may also specifyother characteristics of the virtual marker such as an orientation ofthe marker, a size of the marker, a 2D icon or 3D model for the marker,or a combination of these.

At stage 320, the remote system optionally receives a secondary userinput that identifies supplemental information the remote user desiresto share with the field user. The supplemental information can include arange of content of any suitable type that the field system is capableof rendering for presentation to the field user. For example, the remoteuser may type or dictate text containing instructions for performing atask, or may send an audio recording, a hyperlink, or a video to thefield user as supplemental information.

At stage 322, the remote system transmits an instruction to the fieldsystem. The instruction carries data that, when processed by the fieldsystem, is to cause the field system to augment a view of the ambientfield environment with virtual markers specified by the remote user. Theinstruction can include a display coordinate value and, optionally,other data that characterizes the primary user input and any secondaryuser input so that virtual markers and supplemental information can bepresented to the field user according to the received inputs. The remotesystem uses a communications interface, e.g., communications interface232 to transmit the instruction to the field system.

At stage 324, the field system receives the instruction from the remotesystem. The instruction can be received over a network using acommunications interface at the field system, e.g., communicationsinterface 312.

At stage 326, the field system processes the received instruction and,based on the instruction, renders a virtual marker in an augmented viewof the ambient environment of the field user. A rendering engine, e.g.,rendering engine 222, can render the virtual marker at a position in theambient field environment that the display coordinate value indicatesfrom the received instruction. The rendered virtual marker is displayedusing a display device, e.g., HMD 214. The rendering engine may alsorender visual representations of any supplemental information that theremote user provided as secondary input to the remote system.

At stage 328, the field system identifies a user interaction with thetarget object in the field environment. In some implementations, thesystem may monitor for any user actions to occur within a region of thefield environment that is located within a threshold distance of thevirtual marker rendered in the view of the ambient field environment.Upon detecting the occurrence of one or more pre-defined events withinthis region of the field environment, a state capture engine, e.g.,state capture engine 224, may capture and store state data thatcharacterizes a current condition of the field system, the fieldenvironment generally, the target object specifically, or a combinationof these. For example, the state capture engine may automaticallycapture and store data pertaining to a tool that is applied to perform agiven task on the target object. For a wrench that is used to repair apipe, for instance, the state capture engine may record the locationwhere the wrench contacted the pipe to remove a broken valve or couplingas identified by a virtual marker, and may record characteristics withrespect to how the wrench was used such as its orientation, number ofturns, and applied level of torque.

At stage 330, the field system uses a communications interface, e.g.,communications interface 312 to transmit data characterizing thecaptured and stored state data to the remote system. At stage 332, theremote system receives the state data from the field system using acommunications interface, e.g., communications interface 232.

At stage 334, the remote system uses the state data to render a virtualrepresentation of the field user's interaction with the target object inthe user interface of the remote system. The virtual representation ofthe field user's interaction can be displayed in a virtual fieldenvironment at the remote system along with a display of the 3D model ofthe target object, or a 3D model of the field environment more generallyif the target object has not been extracted. Additionally, the virtualrepresentation of the field user's interaction can be displayedconcurrently with the virtual marker that the remote user had placed inthe virtual field environment at stage 318. For example, a secondvirtual marker representing the location in the ambient fieldenvironment where the field user applied a tool to the target object canbe displayed in the virtual field environment along with the firstvirtual marker placed by the remote user. The concurrent display of bothvirtual markers provides a visual comparison to the remote user of thedesired location for the field user's work, as indicated by the firstvirtual marker, and the actual location of the field user's work, asindicated by the second virtual marker. By seeing the two virtualmarkers at once, the remote user can then make a decision whether thefield user's work is acceptable or if corrective action should be taken.In some implementations, the remote system may generate an alert for theremote user if the respective positions of the virtual markers aregreater than a threshold distance apart. The remote system may alsogenerate an alert if other aspects of the field user's work does notmatch with a parameter that the remote user prescribed for the work. Forexample, if the user torqued the wrench in the wrong direction orapplied a tool in a mode that differs from a mode prescribed by theremote user, then the system may generate an alert to notify the remoteuser of the fact.

At stage 336, the remote system may receive corrective feedback from theremote user if the remote user judges that the field user's work shouldbe corrected in some manner. Corrective feedback may be received if thefield user's work did not match location or other prescribed parametersfor the work indicated by the remote user. In other instances,corrective feedback may be received if the field user properly carriedout the remote user's instruction, but the action did not achieve adesired result. In some implementations, the remote system receivescorrective feedback via an input manager, e.g., primary input manager240 or secondary input manager 242. For example, if the remote userintends to convey to the field user that the location of the fielduser's application of a tool in an ambient environment should beadjusted, then the remote user may specify a change in the location ofthe first or second virtual markers. In another example, the remote usermay add annotations to existing virtual markers or create new virtualmarkers to indicate corrective feedback to the field user.

At stage 338, the remote system transmits data characterizing the remoteuser's corrective feedback to the field system using a communicationsinterface, e.g., communications interface 232. At stage 340, the fieldsystem receives the data characterizing the remote user's feedback usinga communications interface, e.g., communications interface 212. Inresponse to having received the corrective feedback data, at stage 342the field system updates the augmented real-world view of the ambientfield environment. For example, the field system may move a virtualmarker to a different position in the 3D space of the ambient fieldenvironment based on the corrective feedback data. In someimplementations, the virtual marker may be ghosted in the originalposition, while the fully textured virtual marker (non-ghosted) isdisplayed in the updated position.

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate an example physical control object 402 that canbe employed in augmented and mixed reality systems to provide efficientaccess to user interface elements that are superimposed in a view of areal-world environment. Some computing systems do not provide robusthand-based input controls such as a mouse or a keyboard, or users maynot prefer to use conventional hand-based input controls. For example,in mixed-reality or virtual reality environments, a user may wear ahead-mounted display (HMD) that provides a direct or indirect real-worldview of the user's ambient environment. The user may wish to keep his orher hands free to perform other tasks in the environment andconventional hand-based input controls (e.g., a mouse or a keyboard) maybe impractical for use with the HMD. The techniques described withrespect to FIGS. 4A-4D may advantageously allow a user to navigatethrough sophisticated user interface menus and other elements in a userinterface (e.g., a real-world view of an ambient environment) in anatural and efficient manner.

FIG. 4A depicts a physical control object as a cube 402. Othergeometries may also be suitable for a physical control object such as atetrahedron, a square pyramid, a hexagonal pyramid, a cuboid, atriangular prism, an octahedron, a pentagonal prism, a hexagonal prism,a dodecahedron, or an icosahedron. The cube 402 includes six faces,three of which are explicitly shown in FIG. 4A. Respective symbols 406a-c are uniquely printed on each of the faces. For example, the firstface of the cube 402 includes a circle symbol 406 a while the secondface of the cube 402 includes a triangular symbol 406 b. The cube 402 islocated within the field of view of a camera 404. The camera 404 may,for example, be an RGB video camera on a head-mounted display such thatthe cube 402 is in the camera's field of view when the user turns his orher head to gaze at the cube 402.

While the cube 402 is in the field of view of the camera 404, acomputing system coupled to the camera 404, e.g., field system 202 orremote system 204, may use computer vision techniques to recognize thecube 402 as a physical control object, and to render virtual displayelements over a particular surface of the cube 402, all surfaces of thecube 402, or only some surfaces of the cube 402. For example, anaugmented view 408 a of the cube 402 is shown in which a first virtualdisplay element 410 a is rendered over the first face of the cube 402, asecond virtual display element 410 b is rendered over the second face ofthe cube 402, and a third virtual display element 410 c is rendered overthe third face of the cube 402. The virtual display elements may whollyor partially mask a view of the actual contents of the respective facesof the cube 402. For instance, a virtual display element may be renderedin an augmented real-world view of the ambient environment bysuperimposing the virtual display element over a corresponding face ofthe cube 402 to texturize the face.

In some implementations, a virtual display element provides a userinterface control with which a user may interact by manipulating thecontrol object, e.g., cube 402. For example, FIG. 4C shows a circulardial 412 as a virtual display element that has been rendered over thesecond face of the cube. The system may select to render the dial 412over the second face of the cube 402, and to not render virtual displayelements over other faces of the cube 402, based on identifying that thesecond face of the cube 402 is oriented in a predetermined direction,e.g., in the direction of the camera 404. A user may rotate the dial 412to perform an action with the computing system by rotating the cube 402while maintaining the second face of the cube 402 in the orientationtoward camera 404. The dial 412 may be fixed relative to the cube 402 sothat it follows the cube 402 as it moves within the field of view of thecamera.

In some implementations, a user may activate different virtual displayelements by rotating the cube 402 to orient different faces of the cubetoward the camera 404. For example, FIG. 4D shows that the system mayrender a menu 414, rather than a dial 412, when the cube 402 is rotatedsuch that the first face is oriented toward the camera 404.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example process 500 that for renderingvirtual display elements within a user interface based on actionsperformed with a physical control object, e.g., cube 402, in the fieldof view of a camera. In some implementations, the process 500 is carriedout by a system of one or more computers in one or more locations, e.g.,field system 202 or remote system 204. At stage 502, the system detectsa physical control object within the field of view of the camera. Thephysical control object may have a geometric shape with multiple sides arespective symbol printed on each side. At stage 504, the systemanalyzes images or video of the physical control object to detect afirst symbol on a face of the physical control object that is orientedtoward the camera. The system may include a database that maps each of aset of virtual display elements to one or more symbols printed on thephysical control object. At stage 506, based on detecting the firstsymbol on the face of the physical control object that is orientedtoward the camera, the system selects a virtual display element that ismapped to the first symbol. At stage 508, the system renders theselected virtual display element in a view of an environment thatincludes the physical control object. The virtual display element isrendered at least partially over a face of the physical control objectthat is oriented toward the camera. At stage 510, the system identifiesthat a user input manipulated the physical control object while facehaving the first symbol remains oriented toward the camera. For example,the user may rotate, shake, or tap on the first face of the controlobject. The system is configured to detect the user's interaction withthe control object by analyzing images or video of the control objectusing computer vision techniques. At stage 512, the system performs anoperation associated with the virtual display element based on theidentified user interaction. For example, if the user tilts the controlobject forward, the system may respond by scrolling down a list of itemsprovided in the virtual display element. If the user then shakes or tapsthe display element, one of the items that has focus in the list ofitems may be selected. In some implementations, the user may activate adifferent virtual display element by rotating the physical controlobject to orient a second face of the object toward the camera. At stage514, the system detects a second symbol on the second face of thephysical control object. The system then returns to stage 506 forcontinued processing based on the second face of the control objectbeing oriented toward the camera.

FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate techniques for interacting with a gaze-activateduser interface element 606 in augmented views 602 a-d of a real-worldenvironment. When viewing an environment through a head-mounted display,the amount of viewing area that can be augmented with user interfaceelements (virtual display elements) is sometimes restricted by physicalconstraints of the HMD. Additionally, user interface elements cansometimes distract from the ability of a user to focus on a view of thereal-world environment that the HMD provides. The techniques illustratedin FIGS. 6A-6D may advantageously, in some implementations, at leastpartially address these challenges in presenting user interface elementsin virtual or mixed reality using a HMD.

FIG. 6A depicts an annotated view 602 a of an environment presented to auser through a HMD, e.g., HMD 214. The environment may be a real-worldor virtual environment. A gaze-activated user interface element 606 ispresented in the environment. The element 606 may be rather small, e.g.,5-10 pixels in width and height, and may occupy a small portion of thetotal viewing area that is capable of being augmented with virtualobjects. The HMD may include sensors, e.g., orientation and motionsensors and/or eye-tracking sensors that sense the direction of a user'sgaze while wearing the HMD 214. The point of focus of the user's gaze,i.e., the point where the user's gaze is currently directed, isrepresented by the reticle 604. As the user moves his or her eyes, orhead, the position of the reticle in the view 602 a changes to indicatethe updated direction of the user's gaze.

In some implementations, to minimize the distraction of the element 606,the HMD displays the element 606 fully or partially transparently whilethe user's gaze is not in proximity of the element 606. As the focus ofthe user's gaze becomes closer to the element 606, the transparency ofthe element 606 may gradually decrease. Other aspects of the visualappearance of the element 606 may also change as a function of thedistance between the reticle 604 and the element 606, e.g., color, size,shape, or a combination of these.

In some implementations, the system defines one or more actionthresholds around the user-interface element 606. For example, FIG. 6Ashows a first action threshold 608 at a first distance from the centerof element 606 and a second action threshold 610 a second, shorterdistance from the center of element 606. As the focus of the user's gazecrosses an action threshold, the system performs a particular actionthat has been mapped to the threshold. In some instances, the actionsmay include expanding the element 606 or providing additionaldescriptive detail about the element 606. For example, in FIG. 6B, thesystem displays pop-up descriptive text 612 near the element 606 whenthe user's gaze crosses the first action threshold 608. Then, as theuser focuses more specifically on the element 606 and the focus of theuser's gaze becomes less than a distance from element 606 indicated bythe second action threshold 610, the system may display a pop-up displaywindow 614, as shown in the view 602 c of Figure 6C. The pop-up displaywindow 614 may provide media content, textual content, or additionaluser interface elements such as a list of interactive items organized asa menu.

In some implementations, a gaze-activated user interface element 606 maybe divided into several portions. For example, FIG. 6D illustrates view602 d of an environment in which the gaze-activated element 606 isdivided into a top half and a bottom half. As the user's gaze focuses onthe top half of the element 606, a first pop-up display window 616 aappears. In response to detecting that the user's gaze is focused on thebottom half of the element 606, a second pop-up display window 616 bappears.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an example process 700 for interacting with agaze-activated user interface element. The process 700 may be carriedout by one or more computers in one or more locations, e.g., fieldsystem 202 or remote system 204 using a head-mounted display 214.

At stage 702, the system instantiates a gaze-activated user interfaceelement, e.g., element 606, within an augmented view of an environment.For example, the element may be an icon or other relatively smallvirtual marker that is fixed at a position in 3D space of an ambientenvironment seen through lenses of a screen of a HMD. The element may befully or partially transparent when the focus of a user's gaze is morethan a threshold distance from the gaze-activated user interfaceelement.

At stage 704, the system monitors the direction of the user's gaze asthe user views the environment using the HMD. The system may determinethe direction of the user's gaze using orientation and motion sensingdata from sensors on the HMD of the user such as eye tracking sensors,accelerometers, compasses, gyroscopes, or a combination of two or moreof these. In some implementations, the system can display a reticle(e.g., a small dot or cross-hairs) in the view of the environment thatprecisely identifies the calculated direction of the user's gaze.

At stage 706, the system adjusts the transparency of the gaze-activateduser interface element based on a distance between a focal point of theuser's gaze (e.g., as indicated by a reticle) and the location of theelement. In some implementations, the element becomes increasinglyopaque as the distance between the focal point of the user's gaze andthe location of the element decreases.

At stage 708, the system detects that the focal point of the user's gazeis less than a threshold distance from the location of thegaze-activated user-interface element. In response, the system performsa prescribed action such as generating and rendering a pop-up displayelement within the view of the environment. For example, thegaze-activated user-interface element may expand to show additionaldetailed information about a topic when the user's gaze becomes fixed onthe element.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a computer system 800. The system 800can be used to carry out the operations described in association withany of the computer-implemented methods, systems, devices, and othertechniques described previously, according to some implementations. Thesystem 800 is intended to include various forms of digital computers,such as laptops, desktops, workstations, personal digital assistants,servers, blade servers, mainframes, and other appropriate computers. Thesystem 800 can also include mobile devices, such as personal digitalassistants, cellular telephones, smartphones, and other similarcomputing devices. Additionally, the system can include portable storagemedia, such as, Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drives. For example,the USB flash drives may store operating systems and other applications.The USB flash drives can include input/output components, such as awireless transmitter or USB connector that may be inserted into a USBport of another computing device.

The system 800 includes a processor 810, a memory 820, a storage device830, and an input/output device 840. Each of the components 810, 820,830, and 840 are interconnected using a system bus 850. The processor810 is capable of processing instructions for execution within thesystem 800. The processor may be designed using any of a number ofarchitectures. For example, the processor 810 may be a CISC (ComplexInstruction Set Computers) processor, a RISC (Reduced Instruction SetComputer) processor, or a MISC (Minimal Instruction Set Computer)processor.

In some implementations, the processor 810 is a single-threadedprocessor. In another implementation, the processor 810 is amulti-threaded processor. The processor 810 is capable of processinginstructions stored in the memory 820 or on the storage device 830 todisplay graphical information for a user interface on the input/outputdevice 840.

The memory 820 stores information within the system 800. In oneimplementation, the memory 820 is a computer-readable medium. In oneimplementation, the memory 820 is a volatile memory unit. In anotherimplementation, the memory 820 is a non-volatile memory unit.

The storage device 830 is capable of providing mass storage for thesystem 800. In one implementation, the storage device 830 is acomputer-readable medium. In various different implementations, thestorage device 830 may be a floppy disk device, a hard disk device, anoptical disk device, or a tape device.

The input/output device 840 provides input/output operations for thesystem 800. In one implementation, the input/output device 840 includesa keyboard and/or pointing device. In another implementation, theinput/output device 840 includes a display unit for displaying graphicaluser interfaces.

The features described can be implemented in digital electroniccircuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or incombinations of them. The apparatus can be implemented in a computerprogram product tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in amachine-readable storage device for execution by a programmableprocessor; and method steps can be performed by a programmable processorexecuting a program of instructions to perform functions of thedescribed implementations by operating on input data and generatingoutput. The described features can be implemented advantageously in oneor more computer programs that are executable on a programmable systemincluding at least one programmable processor coupled to receive dataand instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a datastorage system, at least one input device, and at least one outputdevice. A computer program is a set of instructions that can be used,directly or indirectly, in a computer to perform a certain activity orbring about a certain result. A computer program can be written in anyform of programming language, including compiled or interpretedlanguages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as astand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unitsuitable for use in a computing environment.

Suitable processors for the execution of a program of instructionsinclude, by way of example, both general and special purposemicroprocessors, and the sole processor or one of multiple processors ofany kind of computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructionsand data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. Theessential elements of a computer are a processor for executinginstructions and one or more memories for storing instructions and data.Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled tocommunicate with, one or more mass storage devices for storing datafiles; such devices include magnetic disks, such as internal hard disksand removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and optical disks. Storagedevices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructionsand data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way ofexample semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flashmemory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removabledisks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. Theprocessor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in,ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits).

To provide for interaction with a user, the features can be implementedon a computer having a display device such as a CRT (cathode ray tube)or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor for displaying information tothe user and a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse or atrackball by which the user can provide input to the computer.Additionally, such activities can be implemented via touchscreenflat-panel displays and other appropriate mechanisms.

The features can be implemented in a computer system that includes aback-end component, such as a data server, or that includes a middlewarecomponent, such as an application server or an Internet server, or thatincludes a front-end component, such as a client computer having agraphical user interface or an Internet browser, or any combination ofthem. The components of the system can be connected by any form ormedium of digital data communication such as a communication network.Examples of communication networks include a local area network (“LAN”),a wide area network (“WAN”), peer-to-peer networks (having ad-hoc orstatic members), grid computing infrastructures, and the Internet.

The computer system can include clients and servers. A client and serverare generally remote from each other and typically interact through anetwork, such as the described one. The relationship of client andserver arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respectivecomputers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

While this specification contains many specific implementation details,these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of anyinventions or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions offeatures specific to particular implementations of particularinventions. Certain features that are described in this specification inthe context of separate implementations can also be implemented incombination in a single implementation. Conversely, various featuresthat are described in the context of a single implementation can also beimplemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitablesubcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above asacting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, oneor more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excisedfrom the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to asubcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particularorder, this should not be understood as requiring that such operationsbe performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, orthat all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirableresults. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processingmay be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various systemcomponents in the implementations described above should not beunderstood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and itshould be understood that the described program components and systemscan generally be integrated together in a single software product orpackaged into multiple software products.

Thus, particular implementations of the subject matter have beendescribed. Other implementations are within the scope of the followingclaims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can beperformed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. Inaddition, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do notnecessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, toachieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking andparallel processing may be advantageous.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:providing, by a device worn by a user, an augmented view of anenvironment of the user; providing a gaze-activated user interface (UI)element at a position within the augmented view of an environment;monitoring a location of a focus of a gaze of the user within theaugmented view of the environment; and adjusting at least onecharacteristic of the UI element based on a distance between thelocation of the focus of the gaze of the user and the position of the UIelement.
 2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, whereinadjusting the at least one characteristic the UI element based on thedistance between the location of the focus of the gaze of the user andthe position of the UI element comprises: performing a first actionbased on the location of the focus of the gaze of the user crossingwithin a first threshold distance to the UI element.
 3. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein adjusting the at leastone characteristic the UI element based on the distance between thelocation of the focus of the gaze of the user and the position of the UIelement comprises: performing a second action based on the location ofthe focus of the gaze of the user crossing within a second thresholddistance to the UI element, wherein the second threshold distance isless than the first threshold distance.
 4. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 1, comprising providing the UI element in a collapsedstate, wherein adjusting the at least one characteristic of the UIelement based on the distance between the location of the focus of thegaze of the user and the position of the UI element comprises: expandingthe UI element from the collapsed state to an expanded state based onthe distance between the location of the focus of the gaze of the userand the position of the UI element being a specified threshold distanceor less.
 5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprisingdisplaying the UI element as at least partially transparent, whereinadjusting the at least one characteristic of the UI element based on thedistance between the location of the focus of the gaze of the user andthe position of the UI element comprises: decreasing transparency of theUI element based on the distance between the location of the focus ofthe gaze of the user and the position of the UI element being aspecified threshold distance or less.
 6. The computer-implemented methodof claim 1, wherein adjusting the at least one characteristic of the UIelement based on the distance between the location of the focus of thegaze of the user and the position of the UI element comprises: graduallyincreasing an opacity of the UI element with decreasing distance betweenthe location of the focus of the gaze of the user and the position ofthe UI element.
 7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, whereinadjusting the at least one characteristic of the UI element based on thedistance between the location of the focus of the gaze of the user andthe position of the UI element comprises: rendering a pop-up displayelement at the position of the UI element based on the distance betweenthe location of the focus of the gaze of the user and the position ofthe UI element being a threshold distance or less.
 8. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the UI element includesa first portion and a second portion, wherein adjusting the at least onecharacteristic of the UI element based on the distance between thelocation of the focus of the gaze of the user and the position of the UIelement comprises: based on the distance between the location of thefocus of the gaze of the user and the position of the first portion ofthe UI element being less than a first specified threshold distance,rendering a first pop-up display element at the position of the firstportion of the UI element; and based on the distance between thelocation of the focus of the gaze of the user and the position of thesecond portion of the UI element being less than a second specifiedthreshold distance, concealing the first pop-up display element at theposition of the first portion of the UI element and rendering a secondpop-up display element at the position of the second portion of the UIelement.
 9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein: thedevice comprises a head-mounted display, and monitoring the location ofthe focus of the gaze of the user within the augmented view of theenvironment comprises tracking the location of the focus of the gaze ofthe user based on sensor data generated by one or more sensors includedin the head-mounted display.
 10. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 9, wherein the one or more sensors include at least one of anaccelerometer, a compass, a gyroscope, or an eye-tracking sensor. 11.The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising displaying areticle at the location of the focus of the gaze of the user within theaugmented view of the environment.
 12. The computer-implemented methodof claim 1, comprising providing the UI element at a fixed positionwithin the augmented view of the environment.
 13. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the fixed position ofthe UI element comprises a three-dimensional coordinate location withinthe environment.
 14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, whereinthe environment comprises a real-world environment or virtualenvironment.
 15. One or more non-transitory computer-readable mediahaving instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by one or moreprocessors of a computing system, cause the one or more processors toperform operations comprising: providing, by a device worn by a user, anaugmented view of an environment of the user; providing a gaze-activateduser interface (UI) element at a position within the augmented view ofan environment; monitoring a location of a focus of a gaze of the userwithin the augmented view of the environment; and adjusting at least onecharacteristic of the UI element based on a distance between thelocation of the focus of the gaze of the user and the position of the UIelement.
 16. The computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein adjustingthe at least one characteristic the UI element based on the distancebetween the location of the focus of the gaze of the user and theposition of the UI element comprises: performing a first action based onthe location of the focus of the gaze of the user crossing within afirst threshold distance to the UI element.
 17. The computer-readablemedia of claim 16, wherein adjusting the at least one characteristic theUI element based on the distance between the location of the focus ofthe gaze of the user and the position of the UI element comprises:performing a second action based on the location of the focus of thegaze of the user crossing within a second threshold distance to the UIelement, wherein the second threshold distance is less than the firstthreshold distance.
 18. The computer-readable media of claim 15,comprising providing the UI element in a collapsed state, whereinadjusting the at least one characteristic of the UI element based on thedistance between the location of the focus of the gaze of the user andthe position of the UI element comprises: expanding the UI element fromthe collapsed state to an expanded state based on the distance betweenthe location of the focus of the gaze of the user and the position ofthe UI element being a specified threshold distance or less.
 19. Thecomputer-readable media of claim 15, comprising displaying the UIelement as at least partially transparent, wherein adjusting the atleast one characteristic of the UI element based on the distance betweenthe location of the focus of the gaze of the user and the position ofthe UI element comprises: decreasing transparency of the UI elementbased on the distance between the location of the focus of the gaze ofthe user and the position of the UI element being a specified thresholddistance or less.
 20. A computing system, comprising: one or moreprocessors; and one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediaencoded with instructions that, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, cause the one or more processors to perform operationscomprising: providing, by a device worn by a user, an augmented view ofan environment of the user; providing a gaze-activated user interface(UI) element at a position within the augmented view of an environment;monitoring a location of a focus of a gaze of the user within theaugmented view of the environment; and adjusting at least onecharacteristic of the UI element based on a distance between thelocation of the focus of the gaze of the user and the position of the UIelement.